Control method and apparatus in a mobile automation system

ABSTRACT

A control method includes: storing, at a control server, respective identifiers for a plurality of sub-regions in a facility; for each sub-region identifier, a location of the sub-region in the facility and an operational constraint associated with a mobile automation apparatus; at the control server: obtaining a job definition indicating a set of the sub-region identifiers and a task; retrieving the locations and the operational constraints corresponding to the set of sub-region identifiers from the repository; allocating the set of sub-region identifiers to a plurality of subsets of sub-region identifiers, each subset having a shared common operational constraint; for each subset of sub-region identifiers, generating a task fragment containing the subset of sub-region identifiers, and the common operational constraint; and sending the task fragments and an identifier of the task to the mobile automation apparatus for performance of the task at each of the set of sub-region identifiers.

BACKGROUND

Environments in which objects are managed, such as retail facilities,may be complex and fluid. For example, a retail facility may includeobjects such as products for purchase, a distribution environment mayinclude objects such as parcels or pallets, a manufacturing environmentmay include objects such as components or assemblies, a healthcareenvironment may include objects such as medications or medical devices.A mobile apparatus may be employed to perform tasks within theenvironment, such as capturing data for use in identifying products thatare out of stock, incorrectly located, and the like. However, thepresence of customers and the complexity of the environments introducesdifficulties in task assignment and execution for the mobile apparatus.For example, obstacles may interrupt the performance of the task, whichmay result in the need to abandon or restart the task.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explainvarious principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a mobile automation system.

FIG. 2A depicts a mobile automation apparatus in the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of certain internal hardware components ofthe mobile automation apparatus in the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of certain internal components of the serverof the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram of certain internal components of the mobileautomation apparatus of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control method at the server of the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a control method at the mobile automationapparatus of the system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6-7 depict the performance of the method of FIG. 5 by the mobileautomation apparatus of FIG. 1.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples disclosed herein are directed to a control method in a mobileautomation system including a mobile automation apparatus and a controlserver. The method includes: storing, in a repository by the controlserver, (i) respective identifiers for a plurality of sub-regions in afacility, (ii) for each sub-region identifier, a location of thesub-region in the facility, and (iii) for each sub-region identifier, anoperational constraint associated with the mobile automation apparatus;at the control server: obtaining a job definition indicating a set ofthe sub-region identifiers and a task to be performed; retrieving thelocations and the operational constraints corresponding to the set ofsub-region identifiers from the repository; allocating the set ofsub-region identifiers to a plurality of subsets of sub-regionidentifiers, each subset having a shared common operational constraint;for each subset of sub-region identifiers, generating a task fragmentcontaining the subset of sub-region identifiers, the common operationalconstraint, and the task; and sending the task fragments to the mobileautomation apparatus for performance of the task at each of the set ofsub-region identifiers.

Further examples disclosed herein are directed to a control server in amobile automation system including a mobile automation apparatus, thecontrol server comprising: a memory storing (i) respective identifiersfor a plurality of sub-regions in a facility, (ii) for each sub-regionidentifier, a location of the sub-region in the facility, and (iii) foreach sub-region identifier, an operational constraint associated withthe mobile automation apparatus; a job preprocessor configured to obtaina job definition indicating a set of the sub-region identifiers and atask to be performed; a fragment generator configured to: retrieve thelocations and the operational constraints corresponding to the set ofsub-region identifiers from the repository; allocate the set ofsub-region identifiers to a plurality of subsets of sub-regionidentifiers, each subset having a shared common operational constraint;for each subset of sub-region identifiers, generate a task fragmentcontaining the subset of sub-region identifiers, and the commonoperational constraint; and a dispatcher configured to send the taskfragments and an identifier of the task to the mobile automationapparatus for performance of the task at each of the set of sub-regionidentifiers.

Still further examples disclosed herein are directed to a mobileautomation apparatus, comprising: a task manager configured to receive atask identifier and a plurality of task fragments from a control server,each task fragment containing (i) a subset of identifiers for respectivesub-regions in a facility, and (ii) an operational constraint; anavigator configured, for each task fragment, to generate a pathtraversing the subset of sub-regions; the task manager furtherconfigured, during travel of the mobile automation apparatus along thepath, to perform the identified task.

FIG. 1 depicts a mobile automation system 100 in accordance with theteachings of this disclosure. The system 100 includes a control server101 (also referred to herein simply as the server 101), in communicationwith at least one mobile automation apparatus 103 (also referred toherein simply as the apparatus 103) and at least one client computingdevice 105 via communication links 107, illustrated in the presentexample as including wireless links. In the present example, the links107 are provided by a wireless local area network (WLAN) deployed withinthe retail environment by one or more access points. In other examples,the server 101, the client device 105, or both, are located outside theretail environment, and the links 107 therefore include wide-areanetworks such as the Internet, mobile networks, and the like. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, the system 100 also includes a dock108 for the apparatus 103. The dock 108 is in communication with theserver 101 via a link 109 that in the present example is a wired link.In other examples, however, the link 109 is a wireless link. The mobileautomation apparatus 103, when coupled to the dock 108, may establishcommunications with the dock 108 to communicate with the server 101 viathe link 109 instead of, or in addition to, the link 107. The dock 108may also supply power (e.g. electrical power) to the apparatus 103.

The client computing device 105 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a mobilecomputing device, such as a tablet, smart phone or the like. In otherexamples, the client device 105 includes computing devices such as adesktop computer, a laptop computer, another server, a kiosk, a monitor,or other suitable device. The system 100 can include a plurality ofclient devices 105, each in communication with the server 101 viarespective links 107.

The system 100 is deployed, in the illustrated example, in a retailenvironment including a plurality of shelf modules 110-1, 110-2, 110-3and so on (collectively referred to as shelves 110, and genericallyreferred to as a shelf 110—this nomenclature is also employed for otherelements discussed herein). Each shelf module 110 supports a pluralityof products 112. Each shelf module 110 includes a shelf back 116-1,116-2, 116-3 and a support surface (e.g. support surface 117-3 asillustrated in FIG. 1) extending from the shelf back 116 to a shelf edge118-1, 118-2, 118-3. The shelf modules 110 may also, in some examples,include other support structures, such as pegs, hangers and the like.The shelf modules 110 are typically arranged in a plurality of aisles,each of which includes a plurality of modules aligned end-to-end. Insuch arrangements, the shelf edges 118 face into the aisles, throughwhich customers in the retail environment, as well as the apparatus 103,may travel. The aisles occupy regions of the retail environment, and theshelf modules 110 occupy sub-regions within the above-mentioned regions.The aisles and shelf modules 110 are therefore also referred to hereinas regions and sub-regions, respectively. Other structures within theenvironment in which the system 100 is deployed may also occupy suchregions and sub-regions instead of the aisles of shelf modules 110.

More specifically, the apparatus 103 is deployed within the retailenvironment, and communicates with the server 101 (e.g., via the link107) to navigate, autonomously or partially autonomously, the length 119of at least a portion of the shelves 110. The apparatus 103 is equippedwith a plurality of navigation and data capture sensors 104, such asimage sensors (e.g. one or more digital cameras) and depth sensors (e.g.one or more Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, one or moredepth cameras employing structured light patterns, such as infraredlight), and is further configured to employ the sensors to capture shelfdata. In the present example, the apparatus 103 is configured to receiveinstructions from the server 101 to perform one or more tasks, such as adata capture task, respective to one or more shelf modules 110. Theapparatus 103 is configured, responsive to such instructions, tonavigate among the relevant shelf modules 110 and perform the specifiedtask, for example by capturing images of the shelf modules 110 fordelivery to the server 101.

The server 101 includes a special purpose controller, such as aprocessor 120, specifically designed to control the mobile automationapparatus 103 to perform tasks respective to the shelf modules 110 (suchas the above-mentioned capture of images). To that end, the server 101stores, in a memory 122, locations and operational constraintsassociated with the shelf modules 110. As will be discussed in greaterdetail below, the processor 120 is configured to provide instructions tothe apparatus 103, via a communications interface 124, to perform taskssuch as the above-mentioned data capture, and to receive the captureddata or other results of the tasks for storage in a repository 132 inthe memory 122. The server 101 is also, in some examples, configured toperform various post-processing activities on captured data, for exampleto determine product status data (e.g. out of stock or low stockproducts) and to transmit status notifications to the mobile device 105responsive to the determination of product status data.

The processor 120 is interconnected with a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium, such as the above-mentioned memory 122, havingstored thereon computer readable instructions for executing control ofthe apparatus 103, as discussed in further detail below. The memory 122includes a combination of volatile (e.g. Random Access Memory or RAM)and non-volatile memory (e.g. read only memory or ROM, ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read Only Memory or EEPROM, flash memory). Theprocessor 120 and the memory 122 each comprise one or more integratedcircuits. In an embodiment, the processor 120, further includes one ormore central processing units (CPUs) and/or graphics processing units(GPUs). In an embodiment, a specially designed integrated circuit, suchas a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), is designed to perform thefunctionality discussed herein, either alternatively or in addition tothe imaging controller/processor 120 and memory 122. As those of skillin the art will realize, the mobile automation apparatus 103 alsoincludes one or more controllers or processors and/or FPGAs, incommunication with the controller 120, specifically configured tocontrol navigational and/or data capture aspects of the apparatus 103.The client device 105 also includes one or more controllers orprocessors and/or FPGAs, in communication with the controller 120,specifically configured to process (e.g. to display) notificationsreceived from the server 101.

The server 101 also includes the above-mentioned communicationsinterface 124 interconnected with the processor 120. The communicationsinterface 124 includes suitable hardware (e.g. transmitters, receivers,network interface controllers and the like) allowing the server 101 tocommunicate with other computing devices—particularly the apparatus 103,the client device 105 and the dock 108—via the links 107 and 109. Thelinks 107 and 109 may be direct links, or links that traverse one ormore networks, including both local and wide-area networks. The specificcomponents of the communications interface 124 are selected based on thetype of network or other links that the server 101 is required tocommunicate over. In the present example, as noted earlier, a wirelesslocal-area network is implemented within the retail environment via thedeployment of one or more wireless access points. The links 107therefore include either or both wireless links between the apparatus103 and the mobile device 105 and the above-mentioned access points, anda wired link (e.g. an Ethernet-based link) between the server 101 andthe access point.

The memory 122 stores a plurality of applications, each including aplurality of computer readable instructions executable by the processor120. The execution of the above-mentioned instructions by the processor120 configures the server 101 to perform various actions discussedherein. The applications stored in the memory 122 include a controlapplication 128, which may also be implemented as a suite of logicallydistinct applications. In general, via execution of the controlapplication 128 or subcomponents thereof, the processor 120 isconfigured to implement various functionality. The processor 120, asconfigured via the execution of the control application 128, is alsoreferred to herein as the controller 120. As will now be apparent, someor all of the functionality implemented by the controller 120 describedbelow may also be performed by preconfigured hardware elements (e.g. oneor more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)) rather than byexecution of the control application 128 by the processor 120.

In the present example, in particular, the server 101 is configured viathe execution of the control application 128 by the processor 120, toissue instructions to the apparatus 103 to cause the apparatus 103 toperform one or more specified tasks in the retail environment.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, before a discussion of the componentsand operation of the application 128, the apparatus 103 will bedescribed in greater detail. The apparatus 103 includes a chassis 200containing a locomotive mechanism 202 (e.g. one or more electric motorsdriving wheels, tracks or the like). In one embodiment, aspecial-purpose controller, such as a processor 220 (which may also be,in some examples, an ASIC and/or FPGA) configured to controlnavigational and/or data capture aspects of the apparatus 103 is alsohoused within the chassis 200. The controller 220 may control thelocomotive mechanism 202 to move the apparatus 103, for example via theexecution of computer-readable instructions such as a task executionapplication 228 stored in a memory 222. The memory 222 includes acombination of volatile (e.g. Random Access Memory or RAM) andnon-volatile memory (e.g. read only memory or ROM, Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memory or EEPROM, flash memory). The processor220 and the memory 222 each comprise one or more integrated circuits.The application 228 may also be implemented as a suite of distinctapplications, and such applications may be implemented as a combinationof computer-readable instructions and/or preconfigured hardware elementssuch as ASICs and FPGAs. As will be described below, the execution ofthe application 228 by the controller 220 configures the apparatus 103to receive instructions from the server 101 and, responsive to theinstructions, perform tasks (such as the above-mentioned data capture)respective to shelf modules 110 identified in the instructions.

The memory 222 may also store a repository 232 containing, for example,a map of the environment in which the apparatus 103 operates, for useduring the execution of the application 228. The apparatus 103 maycommunicate with the server 101, for example to receive theabove-mentioned instructions, via a communications interface 224 overthe link 107 shown in FIG. 1. The communications interface 224 alsoenables the apparatus 103 to communicate with the server 101 via thedock 108 and the link 109.

The apparatus 103 further includes a sensor mast 204 supported on thechassis 200 and, in the present example, extending upwards from thechassis 200. The mast 204 supports the sensors 104 mentioned earlier. Inparticular, the sensors 104 include at least one imaging sensor 208,such as a digital camera, as well as at least one depth-sensing sensor212, such as a 3D digital camera. The apparatus 103 also includesadditional depth sensors, such as LIDAR sensors 216, in the presentexample. The sensors 208, 212, 216 are oriented on the mast 204 suchthat the fields of view of each sensor face a shelf 110 along the length119 of which the apparatus 103 is travelling. In other examples, theapparatus 103 includes additional sensors, such as one or more RFIDreaders, temperature sensors, and the like. In the present example, themast 204 supports seven digital cameras 208-1 through 208-7, and twoLIDAR sensors 216-1 and 216-2. The mast 204 also supports a plurality ofillumination assemblies 218, configured to illuminate the fields of viewof the respective cameras 208. That is, the illumination assembly 218-1illuminates the field of view of the camera 208-1, and so on. Thesensors 208 and 216 are oriented on the mast 204 such that the fields ofview of each sensor face a shelf 110 along the length 119 of which theapparatus 103 is travelling. As will be discussed in greater detailbelow, the apparatus 103 is configured to track a location of theapparatus 103 (e.g. a location of the center of the chassis 200) in acommon frame of reference previously established in the retail facility.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, before describing the operation of theapplications 128 and 228 to generate (e.g., at the server 101) andexecute (e.g., at the apparatus 103) task instructions, certaincomponents of the applications 128 and 228 will be described in greaterdetail. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in otherexamples the components of each of the applications 128 and 228 may beseparated into distinct applications, or combined into other sets ofcomponents. Some or all of the components illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3Bmay also be implemented as dedicated hardware components, such as one ormore ASICs or FPGAs.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the control application 128 includes a jobpreprocessor 300 configured to obtain a job definition that specifies atask to be performed by the apparatus 103. The job preprocessor 300 may,for example, receive input data from a mobile device 105 and, based onthe input data, identify an appropriate task to be performed by theapparatus 103 and a set of shelf modules 110 at which the apparatus 103is to perform the above-mentioned task.

The control application 128 also includes a fragment generator 304,configured to generate a plurality of task fragments corresponding tothe job definition. Further, the control application 128 includes adispatcher 308 configured to deliver the task fragments to the apparatus103, and to receive status data from the apparatus 103 relating to theperformance of the task defined by the task fragments.

Turning to FIG. 3B, the control application 228 includes a task manager350 configured to receive the above-mentioned task fragments from theserver 101, and to control the other components of the application 228in executing the task fragments. The other components include anavigator 354 configured to generate paths (for example, based on themap stored in the repository 232) through the retail environmenttraversing the shelf modules 110 identified by each fragment and tocontrol the locomotive mechanism 202 to travel along the above-mentionedpaths. The other components of the application 228 also include a datacapture controller 358 configured to control the sensors 104 (e.g. theimage sensors 208 and the depth sensors 212) to capture data such asimages of the shelves 110 while the apparatus 103 travels along thepaths generated by the navigator 354. The application 228 also includesa system monitor 362 configured to monitor the status of the apparatus103. For example, the system monitor 362 can be configured to monitor aremaining energy capacity (e.g. fuel, battery level or the like) of theapparatus 103, a safety sensor (e.g. a safety lidar sensor configured todetect obstacles in the path of the apparatus 103), or the like. Thesystem monitor 362 is configured to generate and provide alerts to thetask manager 350 under certain conditions to interrupt the execution ofthe task fragments.

The functionality of the control application 128 and the controlapplication 228 will now be described in greater detail, with referenceto the components illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Turning first to FIG.4, a method 400 of generating and providing control data for theapparatus 103 is shown. The method 400 will be described in conjunctionwith its performance by the server 101 as described above.

At block 405, the server 101, and in particular the job preprocessor 300of the application 128, is configured to obtain a job definition thatindicates a set of sub-region identifiers (in the present example, a setof shelf module identifiers) and a task to be performed with respect tothe set of sub-region identifiers. The job definition may be obtained inany of a variety of ways. For example, the job definition may be storedin the memory 122 in connection with a schedule, having been previouslyconfigured to execute at a particular time. The preprocessor 300 isconfigured, in such examples, to determine whether a current timematches a scheduled job definition and when the determination isaffirmative, to retrieve the job definition from the memory 122. Inother examples, the preprocessor 300 is configured to receive the jobdefinition in the form of a request, such as a request received from themobile device 105, via the link 107. The client device 105 may beconfigured to present on a display thereof a layout of the retailenvironment or another suitable graphical interface, and to receive aselection of one or more sub-regions of the retail environment (e.g. aselection of shelf modules 110), and of a task to be performed withrespect to the selected sub-regions. The client device 105 isconfigured, responsive to such a selection, to transmit a request to theserver 101 via the link 107. As will be discussed in greater detailbelow, the preprocessor 300 can also be configured to obtain a jobdefinition by automatically generating the job definition internally,responsive to status data received from the apparatus 103 correspondingto a previous task.

The job definition, as noted above, indicates a set of sub-regionidentifiers, as well as an indication of a task to be performed by theapparatus 103 in association with the set of sub-region identifiers. Thepreprocessor 300 is configured, in some examples, to receive sub-regionidentifiers and a task identifier at block 405 (e.g. from the mobiledevice 105). In other examples, however, the preprocessor 300 receivesinformation that indirectly identifies the sub-regions and the task. Forexample, the preprocessor 300 can be configured to receive a selectionof a region (e.g. an aisle) from the mobile device 105, and to determinewhich sub-regions correspond to the selected region. Further, thepreprocessor 300 can be configured to receive a selection of apost-processing task from the mobile device 105, and to determine whichtask corresponds to the selected post-processing task.

The above determinations are made by the preprocessor 300 based on datastored in the memory 122 (e.g., in the repository 132) includingrespective identifiers for each of a plurality of regions in theenvironment, and for each region, a plurality of identifiers ofsub-region within the region. The repository 132 also containsidentifiers of a plurality of post-processing tasks and, for eachpost-processing task, a corresponding task to be performed by theapparatus 103. Table 1, below, illustrates region and sub-regionidentifiers. Specifically, regions (aisles, in the present example) areidentified along with the sub-regions (shelf modules 110, in the presentexample) contained within each aisle.

TABLE 1 Region and Sub-Region Identifiers Department Aisle(s) Module(s)Grocery 1 1-A − 1-G 2 2-A − 2-F . . . . . . . . .

Further, Table 1 includes an additional level of identifierscorresponding to supersets of the above-mentioned regions. Inparticular, one or more department identifiers may be stored in therepository, along with the identifiers of regions (e.g., aisles)contained within each department. The job obtained at block 405 maytherefore also originate with a request identifying one or moredepartments rather than one or more aisles, or one or more shelf modules110.

Table 2 illustrates an example set of post-processing tasks, whichinclude the post-processing activities mentioned earlier that may beperformed by the server 101 on captured data (e.g. images of shelfmodules 110). Each post-processing task corresponds to a task to beperformed by the apparatus 103. In the examples shown below, the tasks,when performed by the apparatus 103, provide input data to the server101 for use in completing the corresponding post-processing task.

TABLE 2 Post-Processing Task and Task Identifiers Post-processing taskTask Out-of-stock detection Data capture Plug detection Data capture . .. . . .

For the present example performance of the method 400, it is assumedthat at block 405 the preprocessor 300 receives a request (e.g., fromthe mobile device 105) to perform out-of-stock detection for the grocerydepartment. The preprocessor 300 is therefore configured, based on thedata show above in Tables 1 and 2, to generate a job definitionidentifying the shelf modules 110 contained in the grocery department(i.e. the modules 110 of the aisles identified “1” and “2”; that is, themodules 1-A to 1-G and 2-A to 2-F), and also identifying the task “datacapture”. The preprocessor 300 is then configured to pass the jobdefinition to the fragment generator 304.

At block 410, the fragment generator 304 is configured to retrievelocations within a common frame of reference (i.e., a coordinate systemreferencing the retail environment) for each of the sub-regionsindicated by the job definition. The fragment generator 304 is alsoconfigured to retrieve at least one operational constraint correspondingto each of the set of sub-regions indicated by the job definition. Theabove data is retrieved from the memory 122 (e.g., from the repository132 or from configuration data associated with the application 128).Table 3, below, illustrates an example set of data stored in the memory122 and indicating, for each shelf module 110, a location with thecommon frame reference and a set of operational constraints.

TABLE 3 Sub-Region Locations and Operational Constraints Speed DistanceModule Location Illumination (m/s) (m) 1-A x₁, y₁, z₁ High 0.25 0.5 1-Bx₂, y₂, z₂ High 0.25 0.5 1-C x₃, y₃, z₃ Low 0.30 0.5 1-D x₄, y₄, z₄ Low0.30 0.5 1-E x₅, y₅, z₅ Low 0.30 0.5 1-F x₆, y₆, z₆ Low 0.30 0.6 1-G x₇,y₇, z₇ Low 0.30 0.6 2-A x₈, y₈, z₈ Low 0.30 0.6 2-B x₉, y₉, z₉ Low 0.300.6 2-C x₁₀, y₁₀, z₁₀ Low 0.30 0.6 2-D x₁₁, y₁₁, z₁₁ High 0.25 0.5 2-Ex₁₂, y₁₂, z₁₂ High 0.25 0.5 2-F x₁₃, y₁₂, z₁₃ High 0.25 0.5 . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .

The operational constraints, in the present example, include at leastone navigational constraint and at least one data capture constraint. Inparticular, Table 3 includes two navigational constraints correspondingto each shelf module 110: a maximum speed imposed on the apparatus 103as the apparatus 103 travels along the module 110, and a target distancefrom the module 110 to be maintained by the apparatus 103 as theapparatus 103 travels along the module 110. The operational constraintsspecified by Table 3 also include one data capture constraint, in theform of an illumination setting to be applied by the apparatus 103during image capture. The values corresponding to each operationalconstraint as shown above are provided solely for illustrative purposes;a variety of other values may also be specified, and the operationalconstraints need not be specified in the formats shown above. Forexample, illumination constraints may be expressed in lumens or anothersuitable measurement of light output. Other operational constraints mayalso be stored in association with each module 110, such as an imagecapture frame rate, a minimum travel speed, and the like.

At block 410, the fragment generator 304 is also configured to set aprimary sub-region identifier. In the present example, the primarysub-region is the first sub-region indicated in the job definition(i.e., the module identifier 1-A). At block 415, the fragment generator304 is configured to create a task fragment with the primary sub-region.To that end, the fragment generator 304 is configured to set operationalconstraint values for the task fragment that match the operationalconstraints of the primary sub-region. Beginning with the sub-region1-A, therefore, the fragment generator 304 is configured to create atask fragment with the operational constraints shown in the first row ofTable 3.

At block 420, the fragment generator 304 is configured to determinewhether any sub-regions remain to be processed. When the determinationis affirmative, at block 425 the fragment generator 304 is configured tocompare the operational constraints of the next sub-region (i.e., themodule 1-B in the present example performance), as well as the locationof the next sub-region, to those of the primary sub-region. Morespecifically, at block 425 the fragment generator 304 is configured todetermine whether the next sub-region is both contiguous with theprimary sub-region in the common frame of reference, and has the sameoperational constraints as the primary sub-region. The determination ofwhether the next sub-region is contiguous with the primary sub-region isbased on the sub-region locations stored in the memory 122. For example,the locations of Table 3 may correspond to the center of each module110, and the fragment generator 304 may therefore be configured, basedon known dimensions of the modules 110, to determine whether thedistance between module centers indicates that the modules arecontiguous (i.e., disposed end-to-end, with minimal or no space betweenthe modules 110).

The determination at block 425 is negative if any of the operationalconstraints of the next sub-region are different from any of theoperational constraints of the primary sub-region. The determination atblock 425 is also negative when the modules are not contiguous. When thedetermination at block 425 is affirmative, however, the fragmentgenerator 304 is configured to add the identifier of the next sub-regionto the task fragment at block 430, and to return to block 420. When thedetermination at block 425 is negative, the fragment generator 304proceeds instead to block 435, at which the next sub-region is set asthe current primary sub-region, and returns to block 415. In otherwords, when the next sub-region does not satisfy both the conditionsimposed by the determination at block 425, it is placed in a new taskfragment, and the fragment generator 304 evaluates subsequentsub-regions for membership in the new task fragment. As will now beapparent to those skilled in the art, other processes may also beimplemented by the server 101 for allocating sub-regions to taskfragments. In general, the fragment generator 304 groups contiguoussub-regions having common operational constraints into distinct taskfragments.

When the determination at block 420 is negative, indicating that allsub-regions identified in the job definition have been processed, thefragment generator 304 passes the task fragments, each of which includesa subset of the sub-region identifiers from the job definition as wellas a set of operational constraints for the task fragment, to thedispatcher 308. The dispatcher 308, in turn, is configured to packagethe task fragments and transmit the task fragments to the apparatus 103,for example via the link 107. Table 4 below illustrates an examplepackage of task fragments generated via the performance of blocks415-435 and packaged for transmission by the dispatcher 308.

TABLE 4 Task Fragment Package Speed Distance Task Fragment ModulesIllumination (m/s) (m) Data F-1 1-A, 1-B High 0.25 0.5 Capture F-2 1-C,1-D, 1-E Low 0.30 0.5 F-3 1-F, 1-G Low 0.30 0.6 F-4 2-A, 2-B, 2-C Low0.30 0.6 F-5 2-D, 2-E, 2-F High 0.25 0.5

As seen in Table 4, the modules 110 referred to in the example jobdefinition mentioned earlier have been grouped into task fragments basedon contiguity and shared operational constraints. The packageillustrated by Table 4 also includes a task identifier (“data capture”in the present example) corresponding to the task fragments. As will nowbe apparent, the task fragments, taken together, represent the completeset of sub-regions indicated by the job definition.

Following the transmission of the task fragments to the apparatus 103,the dispatcher 308 is configured to receive status data concerning theperformance of the task specified by the fragments, and to assess thestatus of the task at block 445. The performance of block 445, however,will be described in further detail below, following a discussion oftask execution at the apparatus 103.

Turning to FIG. 5, a method 500 of executing a task is depicted, whichwill be discussed below in connection with its performance by theapparatus 103. At block 505, the apparatus 103, and in particular thetask manager 350, is configured to receive (via the communicationsinterface 224) a plurality of task fragments and a task identifier. Theplurality of task fragments received in the present example performanceof the method 500 is the task fragment package discussed above and shownin Table 4. Thus, the task fragments received at block 505 each includea set of sub-region identifiers, and at least one operationalconstraint—the task fragments received in the present performance ofblock 505 include three operational constraints, as discussed above. Aswill be discussed in further detail below, each task fragment alsoincludes a task fragment identifier, which may also be referred to as afragment index. The task fragment identifiers may take a variety offorms, including the identifiers “F-1”, “F-2” and so on shown in Table4.

At block 505, the task manager 350 is configured, in the presentexample, to provide the task fragments to the navigator 354 and the datacapture controller 358. The components of the controller 228 to whichthe task manager 350 passes the task fragments may be based on the taskidentifier. For example, the task manager 350 can store a mappingbetween task identifiers and sets of controller components. Some taskidentifiers, for example, may not require data capture functionality,and may therefore be passed only to the navigator 354.

The navigator 354 and the data capture controller 358 are configured,following receipt of the task fragments, to extract and store locallythe fragment identifiers and at least a predefined portion of each taskfragment. The navigator 354, for example, is configured to extract thefragment identifiers and the navigational constraints (e.g., speed anddistance from shelf modules 110). The data capture controller 358 isconfigured to extract the fragment identifiers and the data captureconstraints.

At block 510, any one of, or any combination of, the task manager 350,the navigator 354 and the data capture controller 358 can be configuredto determine whether the task fragments received at block 505 satisfyone or more validation criteria. The validation criteria, in general,indicate conditions enabling the apparatus 103 to carry out the taskdefined by the task fragments. For example, the navigator 354 may beconfigured to determine whether the task fragments imposenavigation-related operational constraints that the apparatus 103 cannotsatisfy, such as a total travel distance that exceeds an operationalrange of the apparatus 103. The task manager 350 may be configured, forexample, to determine whether the data received at block 505 ismalformed (e.g., contains protocol errors). When the determination atblock 510 is negative, at block 515 the task manager is configured toreturn a message rejecting the task fragments to the server 101, and theperformance of the method 500 ends. In other examples, the performanceof blocks 510 and 515 are omitted, and the controller 228 proceedsdirectly from block 505 to block 520.

At block 520, the controller 128 is configured to generate a sequencefor the task fragments. In particular, the navigator 354 is configuredto retrieve the locations of the sub-regions identified in the fragmentsfrom the map stored in the repository 232 as mentioned earlier. Thenavigator 354 is also configured to retrieve a current location of theapparatus 103 itself in the common frame of reference. Based on thesub-region locations (e.g., the locations of the end-points of each taskfragment) and the current location of the apparatus, the navigator 354is configured to generate the sequence to optimize the distance that theapparatus 103 must travel to complete the task fragments.

Turning to FIG. 6, an overhead view of the modules 110 identified in thetask fragments of Table 4 is shown (in which it is also evident that themodules 110 of the first aisle are contiguous, and that the modules 110of the second aisle are also contiguous with each other, but not withthe modules 110 of the first aisle). The current location (at the timeof receipt of the task fragments from the server 101) of the apparatus103 is also shown in FIG. 6. As will be apparent to those skilled in theart from FIG. 6, executing the task fragments in the order shown inTable 4 would require the apparatus to travel to the module 1-A beforebeginning the data capture task, and would also require the apparatus103 to travel from the module 1-G to the module 2-A in between theperformance of the fragments F-3 and F-4. The navigator 354 isconfigured to sequence the task fragments to reduce the total distancetravelled in the execution of the task fragments, according to asuitable path optimization process. In the present example, as shown inFIG. 6, the navigator 354 generates a sequence beginning with the taskfragment F-5, followed by the fragments F-4, F-1, F-2 and F-3. Thenavigator 354 may also be configured to sequence the sub-regionsidentified by each task fragment. For example, the sub-regions of thefragments F-4 and F-5 as shown in FIG. 6 will be travelled in thereverse order than that shown in Table 4. In other examples, thesequencing of sub-regions may be performed at a later stage of themethod 500.

In some examples, the sequencing of the sub-regions within taskfragments is dictated by the order in which the sub-regions arepresented in the task fragments as received from the server 101. In suchexamples, the navigator 354 is configured to omit the sequencing ofsub-regions as discussed above.

The navigator 354 is configured, when the sequence has been generated atblock 520, to return the sequence to the task manager 350. The taskmanager 350 is then configured to initiate the execution of the taskfragments at block 525. Specifically, at block 525, the task manager 350is configured to select the next task fragment in the sequence receivedfrom the navigator 354. In other examples, the navigator 354 may storethe sequence locally, without providing the sequence to the task manager350. In such examples, the task manager 350 is configured to request thenext task fragment in the sequence from the navigator 354. The next taskfragment is the task fragment closest to the start of the sequence thathas not yet been completed. In the present example, performance of themethod 500, no task fragments have been completed, and therefore atblock 525 the task manager 350 selects the task fragment F-5.

At block 530, the controller 128 is configured to generate a path forthe task fragment selected at block 525. In particular, having selectedthe next task fragment, the task manager is configured to transmit theidentifier of the selected task fragment to the navigator 354 for pathgeneration. The navigator 354 is configured to generate a path for thetask fragment based on the previously extracted sub-region identifiersand navigational constraints corresponding to the task fragmentidentifier received from the task manager 350. The generation of a pathat block 530 can include generating a path to a starting location forthe task fragment, in addition to generating a path traversing thesub-regions of the task fragment itself. For example, referring to FIG.6, the navigator 354 can be configured to generate a first pathcorresponding to the dashed line 600 from the current location to thestart of the fragment F-5, as well as a path corresponding to thefragment F-5 itself. A similar process is performed for the fragmentF-1, in which the navigator 354 generates a path illustrated by thedashed line 604, as well as path for the fragment F-1 itself.

The navigator 354 can also be configured to repeat the above steps foreach task fragment, including those at which the endpoint of a completedtask fragment coincides with the start of the next task fragment. Thatis, the task manager 350 can be configured to instruct the navigator totravel to the start of the next task fragment, leading to pathgeneration from the current location of the apparatus 103 to the startof the next task fragment. The task manager 350 can then, upon receivingconfirmation from the navigator 354 that the apparatus 103 has arrivedat the start of the next task fragment, instruct the navigator togenerate a path for the task fragment itself. In some instances (e.g.,at the initiation of the fragment F-4) the path to the start of the nexttask fragment may not require any travel, in which case the navigator354 may be configured to immediately send confirmation that the start ofthe next task fragment has been reached.

Returning to FIG. 5, at block 535, the task manager 350 is configured toinitiate the execution of the next task fragment selected at block 525by sending instructions to the navigator 354 and the data capturecontroller 358 to travel along the path generated at block 530 and tobegin capturing data, respectively. More specifically, the task manager350 is configured to transmit an instruction to begin navigation for thenext task fragment to the navigator 354, and to transmit an instructionto begin data capture for the next task fragment to the data capturecontroller 358. In the present example, the task manager 350 isconfigured to transmit the instruction to the data capture controller358 prior to transmitting the instruction to the navigator 354, toensure that data capture has begun when the apparatus 103 beginstraversing the sub-regions of the current task fragment. In someexamples, the generation of a path (described above in connection withblock 530) can be performed by the navigator 354 at block 535,responsive to receiving the instruction from the task manager 350 tobegin navigation.

The navigator 354 is configured, during the performance of block 535, tocontrol the locomotive mechanism 202 and associated components of theapparatus 103, to travel along the path generated at block 530 (or, asnoted above, at block 535) for the current task fragment. The navigator354 achieves such control via one or more navigation sensors (e.g.,lidar sensors), the map stored in the repository 232 and the currentlocation of the apparatus 103, which is periodically updated. During thetraverse of the sub-regions corresponding to the current task fragment,the data capture controller 258 is configured to control any one or moreof the image and depth sensors 208, 212, and 216 to capture imaging data(which will depict the sub-regions the apparatus 103 is traversing) andstore the imaging data in the repository 232.

As the apparatus 103 travels along the sub-regions corresponding to thecurrent task fragment, the navigator 354 is configured to monitor thecurrent location of the apparatus 103, and to notify the task manager350 of each sub-regions that has been successfully traversed. Thus, thetask manager 350 can store a list of traversed sub-regions, indicatingthat the data capture task has been completed for any sub-regionsidentified in the list. When the navigator 354 detects that theapparatus 103 has arrived at the endpoint of the path corresponding tothe current task fragment, the navigator 354 is configured notify thetask manager 350 that travel along the path is complete. In response,the task manager 350 is configured to transmit an instruction to thedata capture controller to cease capturing image data, and to proceed toblock 540.

During the performance of block 535, one or both of the navigator 354and the task manager 350 may detect interruptions to the execution ofthe task fragment. For example, the task manager 350 may receive aninstruction from the server 101 (e.g., from the dispatcher 308) to pauseor abort the task package received at block 505. As a further example,the task manager 350 may receive an alert from the system monitor 362,such as a low battery warning indicating that the power supply of theapparatus 103 requires imminent recharging. Responsive to such an alert,the task manager 350 is configured interrupt the performance of block535 by sending instructions to the navigator 354 and the data capturecontroller 362 to cease travel along the path corresponding to thecurrent task fragment and capture of image data, respectively. The taskmanager 350 is then configured to issue an instruction to the navigator354 selected (e.g. from a mapping stored in the memory 222) based on thenature of the alert. For example, the task manager 350 can be configuredto respond to a low battery warning by instructing the navigator 354 toproceed to the dock 108. Other examples of alerts that may lead to aninterruption of a task fragment include an emergency stop alertgenerated by the system monitor 362 (which may cause the task manager350 to cease navigation and data capture until further instruction isreceived from the server 101 or an operator), a time-out alert generatedinternally by the task manager 350 responsive to a task fragmentexceeding a maximum allowable completion time period. In response to atime-out, the task manager 350 may proceed directly to block 540(discussed below), irrespective of whether the current task fragment iscomplete.

A further example of an interruption to the execution of a task fragmentis shown in FIG. 7, in which an obstacle 700 is detected by thenavigator 354 in the path previously generated along the modules 110 ofthe task fragment F-2. Responsive to detecting the obstacle 700, thenavigator 354 is configured to notify the task manager 350 of theobstacle detection, and the task manager 350 is configured to interruptexecution of the current task fragment (the fragment F-2, in the exampleshown in FIG. 7). The task manager 350 is then configured to select afurther instruction to transmit to the navigator 354. For example, thetask manager 350 can be configured to instruct the navigator 354 togenerate an alternative path (shown at 704) to bypass the obstacle 700and return to the path previously generated for the task fragment F-2.In other examples, the task manager 350 can be configured to instructthe navigator 354 to simply pause for a predefined time period and thenresume travel along the path generated at block 530, during which timethe obstacle 700 may have moved from the path to be travelled by theapparatus 103.

When any of the above interruptions are cleared (e.g., when the batteryis recharged at the dock 108, or when navigation along the alternativepath 704 mentioned above is complete), the task manager 350 isconfigured to resume execution of the task fragment. For example, thetask manager 350 can be configured to instruct the navigator 354 totravel to the sub-region in the task fragment that follows the lastsub-region traversed before the interruption. Upon arrival at therelevant sub-region, the task manager 350 can be configured to instructthe data capture controller 258 to begin data capture, and to instructthe navigator 254 to travel along the remaining sub-regions of the taskfragment. In some scenarios, such as the obstacle-avoidance scenarioshown in FIG. 7, the task manager 350 is instead configured to instructthe navigator to travel along the path generated at block 530 beginningnot that the point of interruption, but at the closest sub-region to theapparatus 103 following successful navigation around the obstacle 700.Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, when the apparatus 103 continues to travelalong the remainder of the fragment F-2 (as shown at F-2′), the modules1-C and 1-D will be skipped (i.e. no data will be captured for themodules 1-C and 1-D).

In further examples, rather than controlling the apparatus 103 to resumean interrupted task fragment, the task manager 350 can be configured toproceed directly to the next task fragment, skipping any portion of thecurrent task fragment that was not executed prior to the interruption.In other words, in such embodiments the task manager 350 proceedsdirectly to block 540 following an interruption, rather than resumingthe performance of block 535.

At block 504, responsive to completion of the task fragment, or tointerruption of the task fragment, the task manager 350 is configured totransmit status data to the server 101 (e.g., to the dispatcher 308).The status data indicates whether the task was successfully performedfor each of the set of sub-region identifiers corresponding to the taskfragment. For example, the status data can include the fragmentidentifier (e.g., F-2), and a status indicator corresponding to eachsub-region in the task fragment. Thus, in the example of FIG. 7, thestatus data includes the identifier F-2, and an indication that the datacapture task was successfully performed for the module 1-E, but not forthe modules 1-C and 1-D. The status data is transmitted over the link107. In some examples, status data may be communicated from the taskmanager 350 to the dispatcher 308 during the performance of block 535(i.e., on a sub-region by sub-region basis) rather than following thecompletion of a task fragment. In further embodiments, the transmissionof status data may be delayed until the performance of block 550,described below.

At block 545, the task manager 350 is configured to determine whetherany task fragments from the package received at block 505 remain to beexecuted. When the determination is affirmative, the performance of themethod 500 returns to block 525. When the determination is negative,however, indicating that every task fragment has been executed (even ifsome task fragments or portions thereof were interrupted), the taskmanager 350 proceeds to block 550.

At block 550 the task manager 350 is configured to transmit the captureddata to the server 101. In particular, the task manager 350 isconfigured to send an instruction to the navigator 354 to travel to thedock 108. Responsive to arriving at the dock 108, the task manager 350is configured to upload the captured data to the server 101 via the link109. In other examples, the data can be transmitted wirelessly via thelink 107, either following completion of the task fragment package orduring the execution of each task fragment. The task manager 350 maythen await receipt of a further package at block 505.

Returning to FIG. 4, as noted earlier, the control application 128 isconfigured to assess status data associated with the task fragments atblock 445. More specifically, the control application 128 is configured,responsive to receiving the status data transmitted by the apparatus 103at block 540, to determine whether the status data indicates that any ofthe sub-regions corresponding to the package of task fragments sent atblock 440 failed (i.e. whether the task was not performed for any of thesub-regions).

When the determination at block 445 is negative, the performance of themethod 400 ends. When the determination at block 445 is affirmative,however, the control application 128 is configured to return to block405 and generate a job definition from the failed sub-regions asindicated by the status data.

Variations to the methods and systems discussed above are contemplated.For example, the methods 400 and 500 can be deployed to perform tasksother than the above-mentioned data capture task. In some examples theapparatus 103 can be configured to perform a guidance task, e.g. toguide a patron in the retail environment to a particular location.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors andfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored programinstructions (including both software and firmware) that control the oneor more processors to implement, in conjunction with certainnon-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of themethod and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform amethod as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A control method in a mobile automation system including a mobileautomation apparatus and a control server, comprising: storing, in arepository by the control server, (i) respective identifiers for aplurality of sub-regions in a facility, (ii) for each sub-regionidentifier, a location of the sub-region in the facility, and (iii) foreach sub-region identifier, an operational constraint associated withthe mobile automation apparatus; at the control server: obtaining a jobdefinition indicating a set of the sub-region identifiers and a task tobe performed; retrieving the locations and the operational constraintscorresponding to the set of sub-region identifiers from the repository;allocating the set of sub-region identifiers to a plurality of subsetsof sub-region identifiers, each subset having a shared commonoperational constraint; for each subset of sub-region identifiers,generating a task fragment containing the subset of sub-regionidentifiers, and the common operational constraint; and sending the taskfragments and an identifier of the task to the mobile automationapparatus for performance of the task at each of the set of sub-regionidentifiers.
 2. The control method of claim 1, further comprising:storing, in the repository: (i) respective identifiers for a pluralityof regions in the facility; (ii) for each region identifier, a pluralityof the sub-region identifiers; (iii) a plurality of post-processingtasks and, for each post-processing task, a corresponding task to beperformed by the mobile automation apparatus wherein the obtainingcomprises: receiving the job definition containing a region identifierand a post-processing task; retrieving the set of sub-region identifierscorresponding to the region identifier; and retrieving the taskcorresponding to the post-processing task.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the facility is a retail facility, and wherein the sub-regionsare shelf modules in the retail facility.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the task comprises a data capture task.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein the operational constraint includes a navigational constraintand a data capture constraint for the mobile automation apparatus. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the control server:responsive to sending the task fragments, receiving status data from themobile automation apparatus indicating whether the task was successfullyperformed for each of the set of sub-region identifiers; repeating theallocating, generating task fragments and sending task fragments for anysub-region identifiers for which the task was not successfullyperformed.
 7. A control method in a mobile automation system including amobile automation apparatus and a control server, comprising, at themobile automation apparatus: receiving a task identifier and a pluralityof task fragments from the control server, each task fragment containing(i) a subset of identifiers for respective sub-regions in a facility,and (ii) an operational constraint; for each task fragment: generating apath traversing the subset of sub-regions; and while travelling alongthe path, performing the identified task.
 8. The control method of claim7, further comprising, at the mobile automation apparatus: obtaininglocations of each of the sub-regions identified in the fragments; basedon the locations and a current location of the mobile automationapparatus, generating a sequence for the task fragments; and performingthe path generation and task execution according to the sequence.
 9. Thecontrol method of claim 7, wherein the task identifier corresponds to adata capture task, and wherein performing the task comprises capturing aplurality of images of the subsets of sub-regions, and storing theimages in a memory of the mobile automation apparatus.
 10. The controlmethod of claim 7, further comprising, at the mobile automationapparatus: transmitting status data to the control server indicatingwhether the task was successfully performed for each of the subsets ofsub-region identifiers.
 11. The control method of claim 9, furthercomprising, at the mobile automation apparatus: following completion ofthe task fragments, transmitting the images to the control server.
 12. Acontrol server in a mobile automation system including a mobileautomation apparatus, the control server comprising: a memory storing(i) respective identifiers for a plurality of sub-regions in a facility,(ii) for each sub-region identifier, a location of the sub-region in thefacility, and (iii) for each sub-region identifier, an operationalconstraint associated with the mobile automation apparatus; a jobpreprocessor configured to obtain a job definition indicating a set ofthe sub-region identifiers and a task to be performed; a fragmentgenerator configured to: retrieve the locations and the operationalconstraints corresponding to the set of sub-region identifiers from therepository; allocate the set of sub-region identifiers to a plurality ofsubsets of sub-region identifiers, each subset having a shared commonoperational constraint; for each subset of sub-region identifiers,generate a task fragment containing the subset of sub-regionidentifiers, and the common operational constraint; and a dispatcherconfigured to send the task fragments and an identifier of the task tothe mobile automation apparatus for performance of the task at each ofthe set of sub-region identifiers.
 13. The control server of claim 12,the memory further storing: (i) respective identifiers for a pluralityof regions in the facility; (ii) for each region identifier, a pluralityof the sub-region identifiers; (iii) a plurality of post-processingtasks and, for each post-processing task, a corresponding task to beperformed by the mobile automation apparatus the job preprocessorconfigured to obtain the job definition by: receiving the job definitioncontaining a region identifier and a post-processing task; retrievingthe set of sub-region identifiers corresponding to the regionidentifier; and retrieving the task corresponding to the post-processingtask.
 14. The control server of claim 12, wherein the task comprises adata capture task; and wherein the operational constraint includes anavigational constraint and a data capture constraint for the mobileautomation apparatus.
 15. The control server of claim 12, the dispatcherfurther configured to: responsive to sending the task fragments, receivestatus data from the mobile automation apparatus indicating whether thetask was successfully performed for each of the set of sub-regionidentifiers; and repeat the allocating, generating task fragments andsending task fragments for any sub-region identifiers for which the taskwas not successfully performed.
 16. A mobile automation apparatus,comprising: a task manager configured to receive a task identifier and aplurality of task fragments from a control server, each task fragmentcontaining (i) a subset of identifiers for respective sub-regions in afacility, and (ii) an operational constraint; a navigator configured,for each task fragment, to generate a path traversing the subset ofsub-regions; the task manager further configured, during travel of themobile automation apparatus along the path, to perform the identifiedtask.
 17. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 16, the navigatorfurther configured to: obtain locations of each of the sub-regionsidentified in the fragments; based on the locations and a currentlocation of the mobile automation apparatus, generate a sequence for thetask fragments; and perform the path generation and task executionaccording to the sequence.
 18. The mobile automation apparatus of claim16, wherein the task identifier corresponds to a data capture task; themobile automation apparatus further comprising a data capture controllerconfigured to capture a plurality of images of the subsets ofsub-regions, and store the images in the memory.
 19. The mobileautomation apparatus of claim 16, the task manager further configured totransmit status data to the control server indicating whether the taskwas successfully performed for each of the subsets of sub-regionidentifiers.
 20. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 18, the taskmanager further configured, following completion of the task fragments,to transmit the images to the control server.